Guice Offshore, trusted for its experience in the aerospace industry, is excited to join the national countdown this weekend as engineers continue to prepare NASA’s mega Moon rocket, Orion spacecraft, and its ground systems for the highly anticipated Artemis I launch, the two-hour window for which opens at 8:33 a.m. EDT on Monday, Aug. 29 from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
A live broadcast of Monday’s launch will include celebrity appearances by Jack Black, Chris Evans, and Keke Palmer, as well as a special performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Josh Groban and Herbie Hancock. It also will feature a performance of “America the Beautiful” by The Philadelphia Orchestra and cellist Yo-Yo Ma, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
An important and growing segment of the global economy and the maritime sector, the aerospace industry is principally focused on the activities centered around space craft and space flight, originally for governments but now ever-expanding to address commercial needs and even eco-tourism. This broad and complex industry incorporates an offshore component, often associated with research and development projects and recovery operations, which is where Guice Offshore’s fleet that includes offshore recovery vessels steps in to assist.
Meanwhile, technicians completed servicing the hydraulic power units on the Space Launch System rocket’s boosters this past Wednesday, August 26.
Check out a NASA photo album here.
After finishing final work inside the Orion crew module, including loading the Snoopy zero gravity indicator and removing the soft covers protecting Orion’s windows and seats, the crew module hatch was closed at approximately 3:30 a.m. Thursday.
Next, engineers will close the launch abort system hatch and retract the crew access arm used to provide access to the spacecraft. Booster and core stage engine service platforms as well as side flame deflectors have been moved into position for launch.
Meteorologists with the U.S. Space Force Space Launch Delta 45 now currently predict a 70 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch on Aug. 29. The primary weather concern for the two-hour launch window is scattered rain showers. A list of launch weather criteria is available here.
NASA is providing a live stream of the rocket and spacecraft at the pad. The countdown is set to officially begin at 10:23 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27.
A full schedule of events is available here.
- Launch date: Aug. 29, 2022
- Mission duration: 42 days, 3 hours, 20 minutes
- Total distance traveled: 1.3 miIlion miles
- Re-entry speed: 24,500 mph (Mach 32)
- Splashdown: Oct. 10, 2022
Artemis is the first step in the next era of human exploration. Together with commercial and international partners, NASA will establish a sustainable presence on the Moon to prepare for missions to Mars.
How to Watch the Artemis 1 Launch
The first in a series of increasingly complex missions to the Moon, the uncrewed flight test will pave the way for America’s long-term lunar presence and serve as a steppingstone to send astronauts to Mars.
Through Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon as part of its mission to explore the unknown in space and inspire the world through discovery.
Attend Launch Virtually
Members of the public can register to attend the launch virtually, or RSVP to the Facebook event. NASA’s virtual guest program for the mission includes curated launch resources, notifications about related opportunities or changes, and a stamp for the NASA virtual guest passport following a successful launch.
The virtual guest program for this launch includes curated launch resources, timely mission updates and a virtual guest passport stamp following a successful launch.
The launch broadcast will begin on NASA Television at 6:30 a.m. EDT on Monday, Aug. 29, and be carried on the agency’s website, as well as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitch, Daily Motion, Theta.TV, and NASA’s App.
NASA will provide coverage of prelaunch, launch, and postlaunch activities for Artemis I, the first integrated test of NASA’s Orion spacecraft, Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and the ground systems at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This uncrewed flight test around the Moon will pave the way for a crewed flight test and future human lunar exploration as part of Artemis.
The Artemis 1 rocket and spacecraft arrived at its launch pad Wednesday after the nearly 10-hour, four-mile trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building.
A livestream of the rocket and spacecraft at the launch pad currently is available on the NASA Kennedy YouTube channel.
Live coverage of events will air on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website, with prelaunch events starting Monday, Aug. 22. The launch countdown will begin Saturday, Aug. 27, at 10:23 a.m.
Artemis I, an uncrewed flight test, will provide a foundation to extend human presence to the Moon and beyond. The mission will demonstrate the performance of the SLS rocket and test Orion’s capabilities over the course of about six weeks as it travels about 40,000 miles beyond the Moon and back to Earth.
Full launch coverage is as follows. All times are Eastern, all events will air live on NASA TV, and the information is subject to change. Follow NASA’s Artemis blog for updates.
Saturday, Aug. 27
11 a.m. – NASA will hold an Artemis 1 prelaunch media briefing following the mission management team meeting with the following participants:
- Mike Sarafin, Artemis mission manager, NASA Headquarters
- Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Artemis launch director, Exploration Ground Systems Program, Kennedy
- Judd Frieling, ascent and entry flight director, Johnson
- Rick LaBrode, lead flight director, Johnson
- Melissa Jones, recovery director, Exploration Ground Systems Program, Kennedy
- Melody Lovin, weather officer, Space Launch Delta 45
- Jacob Bleacher, chief exploration scientist, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
2:30 p.m. – NASA will hold a prelaunch media briefing on the agency’s Moon to Mars exploration plans with the following participants:
- Bill Nelson, NASA administrator
- Bhavya Lal, NASA associate administrator for technology, policy, and strategy
- Jim Free, NASA associate administrator, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate
- Kathy Lueders, NASA associate administrator, Space Operations Mission Directorate
- Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate
- Prasun Desai, NASA deputy associate administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate
- Randy Bresnik, NASA astronaut
Sunday, Aug. 28
9 a.m. – NASA will hold a prelaunch media briefing on the status of the countdown with the following participants:
- Jeff Spaulding, Artemis I senior NASA test director
- Melody Lovin, weather officer, Space Launch Delta 45
Monday, Aug. 29
12 a.m.: Coverage begins with commentary of tanking operations to load propellant into the SLS rocket.
6:30 a.m.: Full coverage begins in English. Launch coverage will continue through translunar injection and spacecraft separation, setting Orion on its path to the Moon.
7:30 a.m.: Launch coverage begins in Spanish on NASA’s Spanish-language social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube) and will continue approximately 15 minutes after liftoff. Mission coverage updates will be posted on the NASA en español social media channels.
12 p.m.: Coverage of the postlaunch news conference will follow approximately one hour after the live launch broadcast ends. Coverage start time is subject to change, based exact liftoff time. The postlaunch news conference will include the following participants:
- Bill Nelson, NASA administrator
- Mike Sarafin, Artemis mission manager, NASA Headquarters
- Mike Bolger, Exploration Ground Systems Program manager, Kennedy
- Howard Hu, Orion Program manager, Johnson
- John Honeycutt, Space Launch System Program manager, Marshall
- Emily Nelson, chief flight director, Johnson
4 p.m.: Coverage of Orion’s first outbound trajectory burn on the way to the Moon. Time of coverage start time is subject to change, based on exact liftoff time.
5:30 p.m.: Coverage of first Earth views from Orion during outbound coast to the Moon.
NASA Television coverage of additional events throughout the mission is available online.
NASA Launch Coverage in English
Briefings and launch coverage will be available on the NASA website. Coverage will include live streaming and blog updates. On-demand streaming video and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff. Follow countdown coverage on NASA’s Artemis blog at: https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis
Live NASA TV coverage leading to launch will begin with commentary of tanking operations at 12 a.m. Monday, Aug. 29, followed by launch coverage beginning at 6:30 a.m. Launch coverage will stream on the NASA website, as well as Facebook, Twitch, NASA YouTube, and in 4k on NASA’s UHD channel. For NASA TV downlink information, schedule, and links to streaming video, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/live
On launch day, a “clean feed” will be carried on the NASA TV media channel featuring views of the rocket and audio from a commentator in the Launch Control Center throughout and a single channel of mission audio beginning 15 minutes before launch.
On launch day, countdown activities with audio of the launch control commentator will be available starting at 12 a.m. by dialing 1-844-467-4685; Passcode: 687630; listeners will hear a single channel of mission audio beginning 15 minutes before launch. Full audio from the launch broadcast will begin at 6:30 a.m. and will be carried on 321-867-1220, -1240, -1260 or –7135.
Launch also will be available on local amateur VHF radio frequency 146.940 MHz and UHF radio frequency 444.925 MHz, FM mode, heard within Brevard County on the Space Coast.
NASA Launch Coverage in Spanish
NASA’s broadcast of the launch in Spanish will include interviews with Hispanic members of the mission and live commentary.
The show, which will begin at 7:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 29, will be available on NASA en español’s YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook accounts, and will continue approximately 15 minutes after liftoff. Mission coverage will then follow on the NASA en español social media channels.
Media and educational institutions interested in sharing the stream of the show can contact María José Viñas at: maria-jose.vinasgarcia@nasa.gov.
Para obtener información sobre cobertura en español en el Centro Espacial Kennedy o si desea solicitar entrevistas en español, comuníquese con Antonia Jaramillo at: antonia.jaramillobotero@nasa.gov or 321-501-8425.
How Can You Participate in the Artemis 1 Launch?
The public is invited to take part in virtual activities and events ahead of launch of the historic Artemis I mission to share in the journey through a variety of activities, including:
Virtual Launch Passport: Artemis Edition
There’s a special edition Artemis passport for this mission (and future Artemis missions!). Print, fold, and get ready to fill yours! Stamps will be emailed following launches to those who register via email through Eventbrite.
Watch and Engage on Social Media
Stay connected with the mission on social media and let people know you’re following it on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using the hashtags #Artemis. Follow and tag these accounts:
- Twitter: @NASA, @NASAArtemis
- Facebook: NASA, NASAArtemis
- Instagram: NASA, NASAArtemis
Follow Artemis 1’s progress on social media:
NASA deep space exploration systems:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explorenasa/
The Space Launch System rocket:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NASA_SLS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NASASLS/
The Orion spacecraft:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NASA_orion
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NASAOrion
Exploration Ground Systems at Kennedy Space Center:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NASA_go4launch
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NASAGOforlaunch/
For NASA’s launch blog and more information about the mission, visit:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/category/artemis-i/
How Can Students Participate With the Artemis 1 Mission?
STEM Mission Toolkit
Make, launch, teach, compete and learn. Virtual and hands-on activities for students and educators. Find your favorite way to be part of the Artemis mission with NASA’s STEM Engagement.
#NASAMoonSnap
During the Artemis I mission, the Orion spacecraft’s internal and external cameras will capture views of Earth and the Moon as it travels between the two. Are you excited to see some of these Moon Snaps? How about sharing some of your own Moon-inspired art?
In anticipation of this monumental milestone, NASA wants to see, hear, and experience all of your Artemis 1 Moon-inspired content – your Moon photographs, your Moon music, your Moon recipes, your Moon nail art, your Moon makeup tutorials. The sky is not the limit! Show us your #NASAMoonSnap!
Enjoy “The Adventures of Commander Moonikin Campos and Friends”
While Artemis I is uncrewed, there is a manikin called Commander Moonikin Campos suited in an Orion crew survival system spacesuit and two identical manikin torsos equipped with radiation detectors participating in the mission. This webcomic tells the story of what the manikins will experience before, during, and after the Artemis I flight. The name “Campos” is a reference to Arturo Campos, an electrical engineer who was instrumental in saving the Apollo 13 crew.
